Graham: Electoral College defies ‘political avoidance’

Sen. Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin GrahamGraham McConnell bucks: 000 ‘non-socialism’ payments Congress overturns Trump’s veto for the first time Bill to withdraw checks for K blocked by third day in the Senate MORE (RS.C.), one of President TrumpDonald Trump’s court rejects Gohmert’s electoral lawsuit against Pence Kentucky Governor calls McConnell’s house vandalism ‘unacceptable’ Pence ‘welcomes’ efforts by lawmakers to ‘raise objections’ to Electoral College results MOREThe Republican Party’s closest allies retreated on Sunday against an attempt to challenge the presidential election results by Republican Party senators and elected senators as an unreal “political device”.

Eleven Republican senators led by the senator Ted CruzRafael (Ted) Edward CruzRomney: Plan to challenge the ‘blatant stratagem’ election that ‘dangerously threatens’ the country Toomey, Murkowski to oppose the Republican Party’s effort to challenge the election results Senate Democrats berate Republican Party colleagues who say they will oppose the results of the Electoral College MAIS (R-Texas) on Saturday said a commission should be created to investigate the election won by the president-elect Joe BidenJoe BidenAppeals court rejects Gohmert’s electoral lawsuit against Pence Romney: Plan to challenge the ‘blatant ploy’ election that ‘dangerously threatens’ the Pence country’ welcomes’ lawmakers’ efforts to ‘raise objections’ to the results of the Electoral College.

They joined Sen. Josh HawleyJoshua (Josh) David HawleyRomney: Plan to challenge the ‘blatant maneuver’ of the election that ‘dangerously threatens’ the Pence country ‘welcomes’ the efforts of lawmakers to ‘raise objections’ to the results of the Toomey and Murkowski Electoral College for to oppose the Republican Party’s effort to challenge election results MORE (R-Mo.) When saying that they would contest the election results.

“Proposing a commission on this late date – which has a zero chance of coming true – is not effectively fighting for President Trump. It appears to be more of a political evasion than an effective remedy, ”Graham tweeted on Sunday along with a Fox News article about Cruz and others’ effort to create an electoral commission to audit the results of votes in disputed states.

Graham tweeted that he hopes to hear Cruz’s objections, Sens. Ron JohnsonRonald (Ron) Harold JohnsonSenate Democrats berate colleagues from the Republican Party who say they will oppose the results of the Electoral College on Sunday. government continues to implant coronavirus vaccine 11 Senate Republicans say they will oppose the results of the Electoral College on Wednesday MORE (R-Wis.), Steve DainesSteven (Steve) David Daines Senate Democrats scold Republican Party colleagues who say they will oppose Electoral College results 11 Senate Republicans say they will oppose Electoral College results on Wednesday Biden asks the nation ‘come together, heal and rebuild in 2021’ MORE (R-Mont.), Marsha BlackburnMarsha BlackburnSenate Democrats scold Republican Party colleagues who say they will oppose Electoral College results 11 Senate Republicans say they will oppose Electoral College results on Wednesday Nashville Mayor says Trump hasn’t called since the bombing MORE (R-Tenn.), Mike BraunMichael BraunSenate Democrats berate Republican Party colleagues who say they will oppose Electoral College results 11 Senate Republicans say they will oppose Electoral College results on Wednesday Congress overrides Trump’s veto for the first time MORE (R-Ind.) And others, but warned: “They will need to provide evidence of the charges they are making.”

In a follow-up statement circulated in the media, Graham said his colleagues will “have to provide clear and convincing evidence that the failure to act – both in state and federal courts and in state legislatures that investigated these allegations – was committed in error. . “

He also said that Republican Party colleagues contesting electoral votes must show that “the failure to take corrective action to deal with electoral fraud has changed the outcome of these states’ votes and, ultimately, the result of the election.”

“They have a high barrier to overcome,” he added.

Graham was one of the first allies of Trump’s questioning of electoral votes in key states and contacted Georgia’s Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) in November to find out more about how his state verified the authenticity of the ballots by mail.

Hawley was the first Republican senator to announce his intention to oppose Biden’s electoral votes in undecided states. He, however, did not sign a letter that Cruz and 10 other Republicans issued on Saturday calling for the formation of a special commission to audit the results of the 2020 elections.

In a letter that circulated on Saturday, Cruz and his allies called for the appointment of a commission to conduct a 10-day emergency audit and give states the opportunity to convene a special legislative session to certify or change their electoral votes.

Graham is the latest Republican senator to warn against efforts to challenge the counting of the Electoral College vote on January 6, when the Senate and the House are due to meet in a joint session.

Sen. Pat ToomeyPatrick (Pat) Joseph ToomeyThe government used the Patriot Act to collect records of website visitors in 2019 The appeals court ruled that the mass collection of telephone data from the NSA is illegal. Dunford withdraws from consideration to chair the coronavirus supervisory panel MORE (R-Pa.), Who will retire in late 2022 and whose home state, Pennsylvania, is one of five who face challenges in his electoral votes, issued a strong statement on Saturday announcing his intention to oppose Cruz’s effort .

“I voted for President Trump and supported him for re-election. But on Wednesday, I intend to vigorously defend our form of government, opposing this effort to deprive millions of voters in my state and elsewhere, ”he said.

Sen. Lisa MurkowskiLisa Ann MurkowskiRomney: Plan to challenge the ‘blatant stratagem’ election that ‘dangerously threatens’ the country Toomey, Murkowski to oppose the Republican Party’s effort to challenge the election results 11 Senate Republicans say they will oppose the results of the Electoral College Wednesday MORE (R-Alaska) also issued a statement on Saturday stating that it would vote to affirm the results of the 2020 election and urging colleagues to do the same.

“I will vote to affirm the 2020 presidential election,” she said. “State courts and legislatures honored their duty to hear legal allegations and found nothing to justify the annulment of the results,” she said.

“I ask my colleagues from both parties to recognize this and join me in maintaining confidence in the Electoral College and in our elections, so that we can guarantee the continuity of the confidence of the American people,” she added.